philippine studies

Ateneo de Manila University • Loyola Heights, Quezon City • 1108 Philippines

Benigno Ramos and the Sakdal Movement

Motoe Terami-Wada

Philippine Studies vol. 36, no. 4 (1988) 427–442

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 Philippine Studies 36 (1988): 42742

Benigno Ramos and the Sakdal Movement

MOTOE TERAMI-WADA

An earlier article (Philippine Studies [1988]: 131-50) outlined the growth

of the Sakdal Movement from 1930 to 1934. This present article
discusses the life of Benigno Ramos, who was largely responsible for the
success of the Sakdal Movement, which left its mark on the 1930s.

FORMATIVE YEARS: 1892-1910

Benigno Ramos was born on 10 February 1892 in the small banio of

Taliptip, Bulacan, in the province of Bu1acan.l He was the sccond child
of scven childrcn, the four boys and three girls of Catalino Ramos and
Benigna Pantaleon. The cldest child was Gabino, followed by Benigno,
Asuncion, Marcos, Enriqucta, Felisa, and Francisco.
Catalino Ramos was said to have becn amember of Andres Bonifacio's
Katipunan, and had reportedly fought against the Spaniards. Benigna
Pantaleon had also participated in the revolution as a volunteer nurse at
the battle front. Catalino used to lament that the youth of Benigno's gen-
eration had no guts, while during his time his contemporaries had battled
against the enemy with only bamboo spears and bolos.2 When the

1. Libm de Bautismo, [vol.] 24, Bulacan Parish Church, cited in Delfi L. Tolentino, Jr., "Ang
Panulaan ni Benigno Ramos," M.A. thesis, Ateneo de Manila University, 1980, p. 12. Information
on Ramos's early life, unless otherwise indicated, came from interviews with Leticia Ramos-
Uyboco, daughter of Benigno Ramos; Amada Ramos, widow of Francisco, and Luwalhati
Samonte. daughter of Enriqueta. The interviews took place on 14 April 1983.6 August 1985, and
18 September 1985, respectively.
2. A certain Hayase wrote "Ganap to ni Kansum Kenkyu" [Study on the Ganap Party], which
was published by the 3 1st Garrison of the Japanese Imperial Army in 1944. This document can be
seen in the Military History Department, National Institute for Defense Studies, Tokyo. See also
Nippi Irei Kai, ed., Hito Senki [Record of the Battle in the Philippines] (Tokyo:
Nippi Irei Kai. 19.58). p. 241. which is based on Hayase's work.
428 PHILIPPINE STUDIES

Spaniards had left and relative peace and order had returned under the
U.S. colonial government, Catalino worked as a fishpond guard of Don
Jose L. Perez, who later assisted in young Benigno's education. Mean-
while, his mother Benigna supplemented their meager income by selling
fish and vegetables in the nearby market.
The family managed to send Benigno through intermediate school.
Apparently his academic performance was of note, so that a Thomasite
teacher offered to send young Ramos to Manila for further studies. But
this did not materialize since Benigno had to help his Ramos did
not finish high school. Nevertheless, he obtained a teaching position in
an elementary school in Pandi, Bigaa, Bulacan. He qualified for thc job
by passing the necessary language examination. While at Pandi, he wrotc
a play which the students presented during their first school program.
Since it ridiculed the local Pandi priest, Rarnos was thrown into the local
jail for twenty-four hours. This incident occurred two years after he had
started teaching, and he lcft for Manila to seek his fortune as a poet and
~riter.~
His interest in writing startcd carly. He narrates in an autobiographi-
cal pocm, that as a child he would jot down whatever he saw in his
surroundings and read these aloud to his friends, much td their cnjoy-
rner~t.~ But his molher was not very happy because this activity was not
conducive to study. She cvcntually banned his writing, remarking that he
should concentrate on his school work because they wcrc planning to
send him to Manila for further studies. In spite of his mother's admon-
ishment, he wrote for the Plaridel, a local literary magazine, as well as
for a vernacular daily, Taliba. In Manila, he was fortunate enough to be
employed on the weckly magazine ~enacihientoFilipino as early as
191 Thus his career as a poct-writer started, although he was always
hungry. He wrote of his daily life as "walang inumin kundi tinta larnang,
pluma ang tabako," and "accro'y tinapay" (nothing to drink but ink, ink
plume for tobacco, and pen for bread.)

3. See Isaac CNZ, "Benigno Ramos: Foundcr of the Sakdalista," Philippines Free Press, 4
kbmary 1961 ,p. 16; and an interview with h e late Francisca Ramos, cited in Tolentino. "Panulaan
ni Ramos," pp. 15-16..
4. CNZ, "Scnigno Ramos." p. 16.
5. Benigno Ramos, "Uata ka I'a." Remcimienlo Filipino. 7 July 1912.
6. According to Kamos-Uyboco, he was first cmployed as a court clerk, translating Spanish
documents. Interview with Ramos-Uyboco.
BENIGN0 RAMOS

CAREER AS POET A N D WRITER

Rarnos quickly earned a reputation in literary circlcs as a fiery poct.

When the literary organization Aklatang Bayan was established in 1910,
he was one of the members, who were among the most promiment
literary figures of the time. Ramos was named as one of the five pocts
who were looked up to as modcls of aspiring poets.'
Soon Ramos was one of the young poets with bright prospects invited
to various literary get-togethers. For instance, at the end of March 1911,
at the celebration of the one hundrcd twcnty-third birth anniversary of
Franciso Baltazar (Balagtas), Ramos was one of the fifty-nine guests
invited. He was introduced as "Ben Ruben," still vcry young but already
well known, noted for his "mayamang pangungusap at . . . pihikang
pagkukuro" (rich words and . . . unique opinions). His poems were seen
as depicting the "real life," noting its tragedies and h o r r ~ r s . ~
Rosauro Almario, a poet-critic, described him as a "pocta-revolucion-
ario" (revolutionary poct) bccause he was a ficrcely individualist poct
who did not dissemble. Martin Martinez Martircs, another colleague,
notcd that onc of Ramos's striking characteristics was his ability to delvc
into thc grcat issues of the time. Marlires felt that Ramos's pocms could
be instrumcntal in eventually bringing about change. Julian Cruz Bal-
mascda, notcd playwright and novelist, saw Ramos as a radical among
the radicals in politics. Hc came to bc rccognizcd not only as a poct but
also as an orator, critic, and journalist. Most of all, hc was rccognizcd as
a pcrson who stood by his convictions, as proven by his pocms. Accord-
ing to Balmascda, Ramos's poctic ability wasmatchcd by only a fcw, and
such ability should be salutcd.
Whcncvcr Ramoscritized U.S. colonizationof lhc Philippincs through
his pocms, hc uscd a pcn namc. It was customary to adopt more than onc

7. A m m g the mcmbcrs of Aklatang Uayan wcrc IIcrmcncgildo Cruz, Kosauro Almario, Carlos
Ronquillo, Ifiigo Ed. Rcgalado, Impc K. Sanros, Fauslino Aguilar, Patricio Mariano, Julian CNZ
Ualmascda, I'cdro Gatmailan. Patricio Dionisio. Scvcrino Rcycs, Amado V. Ilcmandcz, and Josc
P. Laurcl. The o ~ h cfourmodcls
r wcrc Santos, Rcgalado. Balmascda, and Galmaitan. Scc Virgilio
S. Almario. Balagtasirm Versur Modernism (Qucmn City: Alcnco tie Manila University I'rcss,
1984). pp. 53 and 86.
8. "l'arangal sa !Ian ng mga Manunulat," Renacimiento Filipino, 7 April 191 1, p. 23. For othcr
commcnts sec: R. Almario. Tampalsa Tampal, quoted in ibid., p. 87; Manircs. " B ~ n i g n o'Kubcn'
Kamos. alias 'Ucn Kubcn.' Ang 'Sakdalcro,"' Alilapfap. 2 0 Novcmbcr 1930; and Balmasctla,
comp. "Mga Diwang Naghihimagsik" (n.p.. typescript). Balmascda Collection. Karc Rooks and
Manuscripts Scclion. Filipiniana Division, Na~ionalLibrary. Manila. 'lhc last is an incomplctc
compilation of his published pocms prior to 1930.
pscudonyrn in ordcr to avoid dctcction by thc authorities. Rarnos hid
behind Lhc namcs "Bcn Rubcn," "Gat Lotus," "Batikuling," "Ramon
Galvcz Pantalcon," "Wistano Biroy," "Taliptip," "B. . .," "Robcspicrrc,"
and "Nilad."g
Rarnos rnarricd Liboria dc Castro of Baliwag, Bulacan, in 1913. It is
said that thc beautiful scvcntccn-ycar-old maidcn was won over by Bcn
Rubcn's pocrns.1°
Ramos's pocrns, essays, and othcr writings may account for his bcing
a popular leadcr of thc Sakdalista Movcrncnt in lalcr ycars." Onc of his
first pocrns which camcd him recognition was "!Bulkan!" (Volcano!).12
Thc pocrn, according to Balmascda, is the first Tagalog pocm to havc
twcnty-four syllablcs pcr vcrsc, divided into four groups with six
syllablcs each. The volcano in the pocm rcprcscnts the opprcsscd,
including the poor, hungry, and wcak. Although the volcano sccms silcnt
at the rnorncnt, it will crupt sornc day whcn too much prcssurc is applicd.
When a volcano scnds out smoke, it is a sign that it is rcady to crupt, and
the eruption is the punishnicnt mctcd out by the hcavcns. Whcn thc
eruption takcs place, it will bc an cxtremcly strong one. Thc poem wams
opprcssors, cspccially thc rich, to change thcir ways.
Thcre are othcr pocrns which dcal with thc pcasants and the poor.
"Asycnda," for example, dcpicts the plight of the tcnants.13 The land,
which has witnessed thc livcs of gcncrations of pcasanls, sympalhizcs
with them. The pocrn agrccs with the tenant's cry, "Lupa ko'y ibalik"
(Give back my land). It strcsses that the tenants rightfully own the land.
Furthermore, they arc cncouragcd to fight for their right to thc land: "Ang
bawa't sigaw mo ay naging kulog, ang bawa't hibik mo ay naging unos"
(Your every cry bccornes thunder, your every sob bccorncs a storm).

9. The use of pseudonyms by prewar writers was noted by V. Almario, Balagtasism Versus
Modernism, p. 49. Foi Ramos' pen names, see Balmaseda, camp., "Mga Tula" (n.p.), Balmaseda
Collection. This compilation is almost identical to "Mga Diwang Naghihirnagsik," except that the
former consists of the poems cut out from the original publications and that Balmaseda has
handwritten notations.
10. "Ang Buhay ni Gng. Liboria de Castro."
11. Balmaseda's "Mga Diwang Naghihimagsik" has 124 poems Tedon, Agoncillo in his
Tagalog Perdical Liferafure(Manila: Institute of National Language, 1953) lists a total of 135
poems. Ramos's style was striking. "Katas Diwa" (Balmaseda, "Mga Diwang Naghihimagsik")
and "Kahabag-habag" (RenacimienfoFilipino, 28 March 1911) are considered by his critics as
extraordinary. For details;see V. Almario, Balagtasirmo Versus Modernismo, pp. 113-15. For a
literary analysis of Ramos's poems, see Tolentino. "Ang Panulaan ni Benigno Ramos."
12. "!Bulkan!," RenacimienfoFilipino. 21 February 1911.
13. "Asyenda," Pagkakairo. "Mga Diwang Naghihimagsik" states that "Asyenda" was origi-
nally published ii Pagkakaisa, but does not give the date of publication.
 His scntimcnt for thc pcasants can also bc s&n in his bnlagtasan
cntitlcd "Dalagang Bayan Laban sa Dalagang Bukid" (City Maidcn
Vcrsus Country Maidcn).I4 Thc judgmcnt of Lakandiwa is that city
maidcn and country maidcn should not fight each othcr since thcy are
sistcrs, both bcing daughtcrs of the bcloved country. Bcsidcs, if onc
insults onc's own sistcr, thc forcigncrs will bc morc inclincd to insult,
too. Hcre, Ramos cmphasizcs the importance of unity among thc Filipi-
nos. The author's sympathy toward the rural folk is sccn. Whcn Dalagang
Bayan ridiculcs Dalagang Bukid's rough hands, the latter rcplics that
those hands became rough because thcy fccd the peoplc in the city and
rural arcas. Most of Ramos' pocms are fillcd with sadncss and angcr
against the social conditions of his time. For instancc, in "Gunita sa
Lumipas" (Rcmcmbcring thc Past), he bitterly recalls that because of his
social background, a girl who was his close childhood fricnd no longcr
rcgardcd him wcll aftcr she studied in an exclusive collegc.15Hc thcn
realizes that wcalth puts up barriers betwccn pcople.
In anothcr pocm, "Ang Sigaw ng Api" (The Cry of thc Opprcsscd),
Ramos emphasizes the strength of the downtrodden.16Maliit tclls Ma-
lakas that

Lakas, tapang, bagsik ang iyong puhunan;

samantalang ako'y walang taglay naman
kundi ang pag-ibig sa Katotohanan
sa Bayan kong api at sa Katarungan;
(Strength, bravery, aggressiveness are your capital;
while I have nothing
but the love for Truth,
for the oppressed Country and Justice;)

Ramos attributes the sad plight of the poor and the desperate economic
condition of the country to its being under foreign domination. In
"Pilipinas" (Philippines),'' the country grieves that "Kung kahapon
ako'y inapi ng Dasal / ngayon ay lalo pang kaapi-apihan; namatay ang
aking Magiting na Rizal / at patuloy pa rin ang kanyang kaaway. . . ." (If

14. "Dalagang Bayan , . .," Alitoptop, 5 June 1930.

15. "Gunita sa Lumipas," Liwayway, 1 September 1923.
16. "Ang Sigaw ng Api." Sampagito, 15 February 1927.
17. Balmaseda, "Mga Diwang Naghihimagsik." It was originally published in Pagkakaira, but
the compilation gives no date.
432 PHILIPPINE STUDIES

yesterday I was opprejsed by Prayer [the Spaniards] / now I am more

oppressed / my brave Rizal has died / and still his enemies live on. . . .).
In order to change this economic and social inequality, Ramos
advocated the independence of the Philippines from the U.S. To express
this sentiment, he wrote a balagtasan entitled "Balagtasan ng Kalayaan"
(Poetical Joust on Indcpcndence). Five characters appear in it:

Balhala ng Kasarinlan God of Independence

Huwan de la Kruz Juan de la Cruz
(the ordinary Filipino)
Diwa ni Rizal Spirit of Rizal
Tio Sam Uncle Sam (U.S.)
Hukumang Pangdaigdig World Court

The Spirit of Rizal comrncnts that even George Washington would be

against what Uncle Sam is doing to the Philippincs. Rizal lamcnts: Sa
paanan ng dakilang Mutya nating Kasarinlan /ang buhay ko' y inihandog
upang siya ay mabuhay, / at sa ngayong mabuhay (sic) na'y wala rin sa
aking bayan." (Bcfore our noblc Muse Indcpcndence / I offcrcd my lifc
so that she may live / and now she livcs but she is not in my country.) Hc
encouragcs the Filipinos to continue fighting for indcpcndcncc, and hc
would help from abovc. Thc court rulcs in favor of Juan. Uncle Sam says
that he will follow the dccision, but that Juan should wait until the right
moment comes. Juan dc la Cruz complains that it seems to bc his fatc to
wait. But he warns that he had better not be deceived again.
In ordcr to carry on the task of acquiring independcnce, Ramos in the
pocm "Alaala" (Rcmcmbrancc) says that the people could derive inspi-
ration from the examples of thc heroes of the R e v o l ~ t i o n . ~ ~
There is apoem dcdicatcd to Jose Rizal, whom Ramos calls the Christ
of the Philippincs. Entitlcd "Bayani!" (Hcro!), it describes characters
who appcar in. Rizal's two novcls, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibuster-
ismo, and assures thcm that thcy would no longer be oppresscd. Ramos
ends thc pocm on a hopcful note, that independcnce will bc thc
Philippines's tomorr~w.'~
Ramos also portrays thc socicty by making use of biblical allusions.
In "Bagong Hudyo" (Jcw of Today), he likcns contcmporary socicty to

18. "Alaala." Renncimiento Filipino. 7 Scprcmber 191 1.

19. "!Bayani!," Henacimiento Filipino. 28 Dcccmbcr 191 1
BENIGN0 RAMOS 433

the time of Jesus's death, when there were evil Jews who caused the death
of Christ.20Christ represents the sectors of society which suffer injustice
and inequality.
He expresses his religious conviction in "Ang Diyos KO" (My God).21
His God is not inside the temple but in the middle of the farm with the
grieving ones. God is in the company of the lowly laborer, and in the spirit
of those who strive to awaken the nation and change its destiny. "Ang
Diyos ko'y wala sa gitna ng aliw / at di nakikita sa gitna ng ningning, /
doon sa may lungkot, doon sa may lagim, /doon sa may habag--doon mo
hanapin!" (My God is not in the midst of pleasure / and is not seen in the
midst of glory, /where there is sadness, where thcre is sorrow, /where
thcre is mercy-you will find Him thcre!)
We can easily detect Ramos's deep fcelings for the small, oppressed,
and poor in his short story of a Mexican tulisan (bandit), Pancho Villa,
Maikling Kasaysayan ng Bantog at Kilabot nu Taong Ito sa Mehiko
(Pancho Villa, A Short History of this Famous and Drcadcd Man in
Mcx~co).~' This is about a hacienda laborcr who lives a peaceful life
despitc the poverty and corruption hc sees in his cnvironmcnt, until his
own lamily is alfcctcd.Thcn hc tums into aRobin Hood type of criminal.
Ramos' sympathy is obviously with Pancho Villa, and hc implies that thc
dcspcratc conditions found in Mcxico also exist in thc Philippincs.
Ramos crilicizcd the social and cultural tcmpcr of the twcnticth
ccntury in a scrializcd story cntitlcd "Talsik ng Siglo XX."23In this story,
Scla dccidcs to take rcvcngc on hcr philandcring husband Tcong by
having an affair of her own. Tcong's girl is Nardy, who cnticcs mcn for
thcir moncy. Ramos madc a point of the incquality of thc scxcs. If thc
male can do wrong, so can thc female! Conccm for thc fcclings of othcrs
was likcncd to "pananamit na lampas na sa uso" (clothing which is no
longcr in fashion). Ramos attributcs this sony situation to thc matcrial-
ism of thc timcs:

Anopa't sa lahat, ang siglo XX ay dapat mapa~angi.Sa kanyang ka-

saysayan ang salapi ay siyang puri, siyang buhay, siyang Dios, siyang lahat
. . . Kung walang salapi ay wala.

20. "Ragong Iludyo," Sampagita, 6 April 1926.

21. "Mga Iliwang Naghihirnagsik" says that it originally appcarcd in Pagkokaira. but gives no
date.
22. (.Manila: lniprenta y 1-ihcria, 1916).
23. 'l'his was publishcd regularly in the Renacimien~oFilipino from 14 1:cbmary 10 21 May
1912. l h c Filipin~anaScction of the University of IhePhilippines. Dilirnan Main 1,ibrary has a copy
in typescript.
 (Thc twcnticth ccntury is ccnainly uniquc. In its history, moncy is thc
honor, lifc, God, cvcrything . . . If you havc no moncy you havc nothing.)

In a short article writtcn in 1922, Ramos warns of thc politics thc U.S.
inlroduccd to thc Philippines. Hc notcs that whilc Spain uscd rcligion to
makc thc pcoplc forgct thcir problcms, thc U.S. utilizcd HC
also addrcsscd thc Filipino womcn, hoping that thcy would ncvcr
bccomc pro-forcigncrs but would rcmain gcnuinc Filipinos in character
and t h o ~ g h t . ~In' anolhcr article cntillcd "Ang Tunay na Kalaban,"
Ramos lamcnts that Filipino businesses arc bcing takcn ovcr by forcign-
crs. Hc asks

Hindi kaya ikagalak ng ating sarili kung maturang ang buong Eskolta ay
an ng mga Pilipino, ang Rosario ay hindi sa inlsik kundi sa kababayan din
natin, ang Avc [nida] Rizal ay hindi sa mga hapon kuntii sa mga kabalat din
natin?26
(Would it not gladdcn us to see the whole strctch of Escolla owncd by
Filipinos, Rosario is not for the Chincse but for our counlrymcn, Avc[nida]
Rizal is not Tor the Japanese but for our own race?)

Howcvcr, the forcigncrs arc not the rcal cncmics, but thc Filipinos
thcmsclvcs. Ramos says that Filipinos arc not bcing forccd to buy from
the foreigners; therefore, the Filipinos should correct this wrongattitudc.
Hc even suggests that thcy should go back to the usc of gas lamps, kalesa,
karitela (native modes of transportation), and locally woven cloth, ralhcr
than make fools of themselves by spcnding moncy that would never
come back to Filipinos.
In August 1926, the weekly Sampagita magazinc announccd a balag-
tasan entitled "Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas." The thrce periods were
assigned to the leading poets of the time, to Iiiigo Ed. Regalado, Benigno
Ramos, and ~ulianCruz Balmaseda respectively. Each would defend his
assigned period by turns, one period per issue. They were to be judged
by the readers' votes. The balagtasan ended in December of the same

24. "Ang Lamang Bigay sa Atin ng Amerika," Sakdal, 18 October 1930. This was declared to
be. a reprint of what Ramos had written in 1922.
25. Ben Ruben, "Ang Kaliiisan ng Ating Mga Babae," ibid. This was declared to be a reprint
of what Ramos had written in 1924.
26. Ibid. It is allegedly a reprint of what Ramos had written in 1927.
 Balmascda's "Bukas" won the contcst, according to thc board of
judges, who said that thc futurc is something to look forward to, and that
it would bring progress. Ramos, the sccond placer, explained that
"Ngayon" is blcsscd wilh material wealth, but conirollcd by the whites.
Hc urgcd thc pcoplc to act at once inordcr to savc thc country from a bleak
futurc at thc hands of imperialists. One can see that Bcnigno Ramos
already showed a rebellious spirit ("diwang maghihimagsik") and a
strong patriotism even during his early days.
Bcsidcs bcing a fiery poet, Ramos was also known as an elegant,
graccful Tagalog orator, as attested to by his participation in balagtasan
c v ~ n t s His
. ~ ~ oratory caught the attention of then Senate President
Quczon. Subscqucntly, Ramos would accompany Quezon on thc latter's
Nacionalista Party rallies and act as interpreter. Later, he was hired as the
director of thc Senate Clipping Division, with an annual salary of
Fl ,500.29

FOUNDING O F THE SAKDAL MOVEMENT

In one of the earliest issues of Sakdal, Ramos urged the poets to use
thcir pcns for h c betterment of the society: "Kailangang kita sa gitna ng
digma / at sa pagtatanghal ng bayaning diwa, / hayo't ibangon mo ang
lahat ng dukha! / hayo't ibagsak mo ang mga ma~iba!"~O This was his
declaration to the world that poets should be instruments of change as
dcmanded by the signs of the time. In another poem, he reiterated that he
was against the autonomy promised by the U.S. for this was a form of
slave^-y:31

27. "Balagtasan: i<ahapon, Ngayon at Bukas," Sampagita, 24 August to 21 December 1926,

(typescript), Filipiniana Section, University of the Philippines Main Library, Quewn City.
28. One such event was held at the Olympic Stadium on 16 December 1925. The argument
centered around who was fit to raise children. the father or the mother. Gatmaitan spoke in behalf
of the mother while Ramos took up the cudgels for the father. Ramos was described as "tempera-
mental, impulsive and fiery." He dominated the hearts of his listeners with his forceful phrases. On
the other hand, Gatmaitan made them shed tears. Although Ramos lost, it was the most hotly
contested literary battle ever recorded in the annals of vernacular literature, according to the .
Tribune. 18 December 1925.
29. Grant K. Goodman, "Japan and Philippine Radicalism: The Case of Benigno Ramos," in
Four Aspects of Philippine-Japan Relations, 1930-1940 (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University
Southeast Asia Program, 1%7), p. 135.
30. The poem "Panulat," SaMnl. 30 August 1930.
3 1. "Tutol Ako!" Sakdnl, 2 January 1932.
 PHILIPPINE STUDIES

Tutol ako sa bala nang [sic] nanalik sa tanikala

.................
Tutol ako sa balanang nanulsol sa taong bayan
.................
Tutol ako sa balanang nanguulol, nangdadaya sa bunganga'y pawang
bayan, nguni't taksil sa paggawa:
Tutol ako sa dayuhang nanatay sa Kasarinlan. Tutol ako sa kabalat na
walang kayang labanan .........
Tutol ako sa kadimlan [sic], autonomia't kaalipnan [sic]!
(I am against anyone who approves of slavery
...............
I am against anyone who bribes the pcople
...............
I am against anyone who deceives, cheats, whose words are patriotic, but
whose actions are traitorous
1am against my countrymen who do not know how to fight
...............
I am against darkness, autonomy and slavery!)

His admiration and respect for the fallcn dcad of the 1896 revolution had
not changed. In anolher spccch, he calls Filipino lcadcrs and citizens
cowards because they have no couragc to risc up in arms against
oppressors and foreign rulers as Andrcs Bonifacio had donc. He ends the
speech with a prayer to B ~ n i f a c i o : ~ ~

Mabunying Ama ng kabayanihang-tagalog:unti-unting dumidilim ang aming

kabuhayan; unti-unting nagbabalik kami sa panahong lumipas ng rnga
guardia civil, ng mga prayle at ng mga sakristan. Kailan ka magbabalik,
mabunying ama namin? Buhayin mo sa aming pus0 ang tapang at ang
pagmamahal sa arning kalayaan, sapagka't samanralang wala ito ay sari-
saring kaapihan ang aming aabutin.
(Revcrcd Father of Tagalog-heroism: littlc by little our livelihood prospecls
arc becoming bleak; slowly wc are going back to thc past, with its guardia
civil, its friars and its sacristans. Whcn will you rcturn, our rcvcred father?
Makc alive in our hearts and bravery and h e lovc for our frccdom, because
whilc this is absent we will expcriencc all kinds of oppression.)

32. "Nagkasagutan ang Pangulo ng Puloat ang Aming Dircktor ukol kay J. Manahan." Sakdal,
5 Dcccmbcr 193 1.
BENIGN0 RAMOS 437

His hatred toward the powerful and the greedy remained strong. He cited
Rizal as an example of someone who could have uscd his influence and
opportunities for self-gain, but instead chose to be on the side of the
He assures his followers and the oppressed that those who suf-
fer are never wrong, because the pure beating of their hearts and cry of
their souls is pleasing to the Creator.34Commenting on the sad fact that
he could not afford to pay anyone to sell for him, Ramos wrote that "ang
kurus na ito ay talagang kinakailangang ako lamang mag-isa ang pu-
masan (the cross must be camed by me alone).35His view of himself as
another Christ was echoed by his followers, as we shall see later.
Ramos talked on the social conditions prevailing in the country, the
govcrnmcnt officials' corruption, and the importance of national unity in
the form of conversational poems which could be easily understood by
thc common tao. He uscd animals such as the shrimp, cat, hen, andeagle,
in thc tradition of the fable. "Pagibig na Sawing Palad (Sa Alamat ng
Manok at Lawin)" [Unfortunate Love (Legcnd of the Hen and the
Hawk)] is one such work. It tclls about U.S. imperialism in the Philip-
pines in the 1930s through the love story of Lawin (U.S. imperialism) and
Manok (Filipinos). Another is "Legislatura ng mga Pusa" (Lcgislaturc of
the Cats). The cats are Quczon, Osmciia, Roxas, and other politicians.
Hcrc, thc political mancuvcrs undcr thc U.S. colonial govcmmcnt arc
ridicul~d.~~

SAKDALISTA'S IMAGE OF RAMOS

How did his followers view Ramos? What kind of imagc did thcy havc
of him? Following is a typical commcnt on thc drawing powcr of Ramos.
For his listcncrs, hc was able to give dcfinite shapc to their uncxprcsscd
Hc was praiscd as

33. Ibid.
34. "Ang kinaalipin ng lbang Rayan Ay ang Di Pagkaunawa sa Kalayaan; May Liham ang
Patnugot ng Kilusang Sakdalista," Sakdnl, 26 May 1934.
35. Ilamos, "Umagap Kayo sa Aming Dcspatso."
36. See Sakdnl issues lor August and September in 1930.
37. "Sa Tama ng Llaw; ang Aming Tagapamahala Sang-ayon kay G. Zosimo 0. Matlcral,"
Sakdal, 6 Dcccmbcr 1930. ~Madcralalso described Ramos as "isang makatang . . . sa Katagalugan.
na, ang mga pinagtuhugtuhog na sutlang hibla ng psnaginip ay nagiging matibay na tulay ng ating
lahi sn pagbabagungpalad at pagbabagungbuhay" (a poct in the Tagalog region, whosc wovcn silk
lhrcads of drcam bcwmcs a strong bridge of our race in changing our destiny and in making a ncw
lifcl.
 isang ibong puling-puti na sugo ng mga bayani mula sa karurukan ng langit
upang maghatid ng kalatas ng pagpanibagong buhay sa isang bayang naka-
handusay nang walang pagasa sa unrmg baytang pa lamang ng kanyang
matarik na kalbaryo.
(a white bird that is a rncsscngcr of lhc hcrocs from the highest hcavcns in
ordcr to send a writtcn rncssagc of ncw life to a country prostrated without
hopc cvcn on the very first stcp of hcr accp Calvary.)

This sunc writcr saw Rarnos as a rnodcm-day Rizal, the Mahatma

Gandhi of the Philippincs, and the Mcssiah for a ncw lifc in thc socicty.
Still othcr examples of his appcal can bc secn on the following
occasions. In Novcmber 1930, hc wcnt to Lucban. He startcd spcaking
at around scvcn in the evcning, and lhc pcoplc did not allow him to stop
until it was way past midnight. His swcat-covcrcd body and his hoarse
voice wcrc proof of his exertions, and yct thc pcoplc kept asking formore.
In April 1931, Rarnos wcnt to Luccna, and it is said that around four
thousand pcople endurcd thc midday sun just to listcn to him.38
Ramos's followers contended that he had always bccn politically
radical. Hc did not bccomc so only whcn Lhc Sakdal Movcmcnt starlcd.
Cornparcd with othcr pro-labor pcoplc, Ramos was "lunay na rnaka-
dukha ngayon at kailanman" (truly for thc poor always). He darcd to
scrvc the country dcspitc the dangcrs hc might facc, without cxpccting
any favor, cornpcnsation, votc, position, ctc., unlikc othcrs who were
only alter their own b ~ n e f i t s . ~ ~
Some regarded him as an able cditor campaigning for social change
by exposing the social and political conditions of the country.40 A
mcrnbcr wrote to Rarnos that hc likcd the Sakdal motto, "Walang
Panginoon Kundi ang Bayan" (No Mastcr but the Pcople). He praised the
fact that Rarnos criticized the vulgar and dirty administration of the
leaders and legi~lators.~'

Sa mga gawain mong iyan, ay mapapanuto ikaw sa maluwid na landas ng

katuwiran at tunay na walang bahid na itim ang iyong adhikain, sa ikadadakila
at ikalulusog ng ating bayan at sa ikapagtatagumpay ng ating kagyat na
pagsasarili.

38. See ibid.; and "Ang Aming Paglalakbay sa Tayabas ay Napuspos ng Tagumpay ng
Simulaing Pang Bayan,!' Sakdal, 18 April 1931.
39. "Buzon ng Sakdal," Sakdal. 13 September 1930.
40. As expressed in several letters. like the ones which appeared in Sakdal. 15 November 1930.
41. "Ang Batangan, Batangas, Ay Laang Tumulong Kay Benigno Ramos," Sakdal, 29
November 1930.
 (In thc light of such activitics, we realize that you are on thc right path of
rcason and that you havc pure intentions, lor lhc grcatncss and wcllarc of our
country and for the altainmcnt of our immediate independence.)

Ramos was described as "thc owncr and cditor of a ncwspapcr which

hcadlincd thc dcsuuction of the sclfish, unjust, rcvengcful, and opprcs-
sive political kingdom of thc kings and princes in the Philippine govern-
mcnt." He and the Sakdal are praised for fearlessly writing about what
other newspapers hid: "Iyan, iyan ang diwang mapanghimagsik na
pinakikilos ni Ben Ruben, ang Makata, ang Manunulat at ang Man-
analumpati sa lahat ng talata ng Sakdal" (That is the revolutionary spirit
that Bcn Ruben, the Poct, the Writcr and thc Spcaker, brings to life in the
pages of the S ~ k d a l ) . ~ ~
Ramos was clearly an incormptiblc person in the eyes of Sakdalista
mcmbcrs and sympathizers. He was likcned to Ursus, the mythological
bcar whom nobody dared to oppose. Hc would rush forward to express
thc truc feelings of the pcoplc whilc thc country's leaders obeyed only the
wishcs of the c ~ l o n i z e r sThc
. ~ ~ victory of thc Sakdal Movement was,
according to thcm, the victory of all, especially the dukha (needy) and the
maralita (dcstitute). Bcnigno Ramos was merely the buklod (uniting
factor) of the movement.44

bawat isa sa mga dukhang iyan ay dapat kumilos at ituring na siya'y si

Benigno Ramos din na nakikitalad sa loob ng batas at ng katuwiran sa
ikaliligtas ng ating bayan at ng ating kabuhayan at kalayaan.
(each one of the poor should act and consider himself as another Benigno
Ramos who also works within the law and rcason for the salvation of our
country and our livelihood and freedom.)

Some of his followers wrote poems to show their love and respect for
Ramos. One such poem says: "alaala it01 sa kabayanihang lipanalas [sic]
I sa harap ng bayan" (in remembrance of the bravery shown by Ramos
for the country). The writer was referring to Ramos's consistent call for
the boycott of foreign goods, which the writer states is a concrete

42. Pedro F. Espiritu, "Lalong Makapagpapabigat sa Maysakit," Sakdal, 18 October 1934.

43. SeeMHindiMaaaringMasilaw siRamos sa AnoMang Salapi oBiyaya," Sakdal,18 February
1933; and "Mga Dapat Mabatid: Ganap sa Unus," Sakdal.22 April 1933.
44. "Masiglang Totoo ang Kilos ng mga Sakdalista," Sakdal,6 January 1934.
440 PHILIPPINE STUDIES

manifestation of that bravery. Ramos was seen as the true representative

of the people.45
According to aSakdal article, all the writers and prolaborpeople of the
time were reportedly bought by Quezon. For instance, Lope K. Santos
became governor of Nueva Vizcaya, and later was a senator. Hermene-
gildo Cruz, formerly prolabor, became a senator and later was in the
Bureau of 'labor. Faustino Aguilar became the director of Labor, and
later was the Secretary of the Senate. Patricio Mariano was also brought
into the Senate. Jacinto Manahan was likewise in the Senate payroll.
Crisanto Evangelista was included in the Mission of 1922. But Ramos
did not join this crowd.46Rarnos was not an educated man in the scnse
that hc had not even finishcd high school, but people did not worry about
that. He was considercd a man of the times, fruit of the people's
aspirations, especially with regard to the issue of independence. This was
why he could not bring himsclf to be like the propagandists of othcr

Ramos was respected, trustworthy, and incorruptible, and was a

worthy representative of thc pcople. The pcople ranked him among those
who had fought and died for indcpcndcncc. He was likened to Bonifacio,
Rizal, and even Jcsus Christ. The following is one expression of his bcing
likencd to B ~ n i f a c i o : ~ ~
noong una'y isang Bonifacio ang pinagkalooban ng Diyos ng kapangyarihan
upang lumikha ng Katipunan, at hanguin ang Inang bayan sa labis na
pagkaalipin. Hindi natin mananawaran kailanman na baka ang "Bcn Rubcn"
ngayon ay maging isang Bonifacio kahapon.
(in the past a Bonifacio was granted by God the power to establish the
Katipunan,and rescue the Mother country from excessive enslavcmcnt. Who
knows if the "Bcn Ruben" of today is the Bonifacio of yestcrday.)
In an article about the harassmcnt Rarnos had to bear, Rizal and dcl
Pilar are remembered as those who posscsscd conviction to go through

45. For the pocm, see Erato, "Buntot-Page: Kay Bcn Rubcn," Sakdol, 28 November 193 1. For
the statement regarding his rcprcsenting the pcople, see "Palabasin Din Itong America at Magpa-
padala sa Lahat ng Bansa at Liga." Sakdal. 5 November 1932.
46. "Lahat ng May Panitik Ay Ikinabit. Lahat ng May Bunganga, May .Mantika," Sakdal. 17
March 1932.
47. See "Sa Miting, Konstable; Sa Pahayagan. Paglait; Iyan arlg Ginagamit sa Amin ng mga
Makatiyan." Sakdol, 14 January 1933; and "Salamin ng Dangal: iMga Tudla ni Parapit," Sakrinl, 8
- -

April 1933.
48. Marcelo Tco, Robcno. "fluwag Isipin ang Pagkalakot Kundi ang Pagpapakasakil,"Sakdal.
6 Dcccmbcr 1930.
all the shame, insults, mockery, and oppression. This is because frecdom
appears in the midst of sorrow and tragedy, as in the case of these two
heroes.49Ramos's followers assured him that he was not alone in his
defense of true freedom. They appreciated his willingness to be "nailed
to the Cross" just so that the noble Sakdal principles would triumph.50
Jesus Christ during his time was called a fool, madman, and pauper.
Rizal's novels were burned. And during Ramos's time, the Sakdal
Movement was suppressed. The article which cited these comparisons is
appropriately entitled "Walang Progreso o Pagkasulong" (No Progress
or Advan~ement).~~
All this was ecstatic praise for a man who certainly did not deserve the
cxaggcrations, but it was a clcar indication of the impact Ramos had on
the people and of the important role he played in the Sakdal Movcmcnt.

CONCLUSION

In Novcmber 1934, Ramos lcft the Philippines ostensibly to go to the

U.S. to work for Philippine indcpcndcnce. Howevcr, he disembarkcd in
Yokohama and stayed in Japan until 1938. While here, he advanced his
cause among Japancse nationalists. One of thcm, Matsumoto Kumpci,
took care of Ramos and his family. Matsumoto was a Diet mcmbcr,
through whom Ramos became acquaintcd with Toyama Mitsuru, a
stalwart ultranationali~t.~~
Ramos rctumed to the Philippines in August 1938 after meeting with
Commonwealh prcsidcnt Quczon, who was then visiting Japan. Upon
his arrival, Ramos was arrcsted on charges of agitating for insurrection
and sedition. His arrest was contrary to an agrcemcnt allegedly forged
bctween him and Quezon. Howcvcr, he was immcdiatcly releascd on bail
which was collected from his supporters. He then established another
political party, thc Ganap, so h a t he could continue with his fight for
indcpendcnce.lnMay 1939 hc was arrestcd again, this timc forcstafa and
illcgal solicitation of money. His scntcnce, givcn seven monlhs later, was
four to ten years of imprisonrncnt.

49. "May Balitang Hahalayin si G.B. Ramos Upang LManglamigang mga Sakdalista," Sakdal,
1 Scptcmbcr 1934.
50. "Buzon ng Sakdal." Sakdal, 28 Fcbmary 193 1 .
51. By S.F. Silos. Sakdal, 22 January 1932.
52. The most dctailcd account of Ramos's sojourn in Japan. his mccting with Quczon, and
Ramos's activities until thc war is in Goodman. "Japan and I'hilippine Radicalism."
 Ramos was rclcascd from prison by thc Japmcsc occupying forccs in
April 1942. At thc cnd of that ycar, hc started to scrvc as onc of thc
officials forthc Japancsc-sponsored Kapismansa Paglilingkodsa Bagong
Pilipinas (Kalibapi), a mass mobilization organization. At thc cnd of
1944, hc was onc of thc founding mcmbcrs of thc Makabayan Katipunan
ng Pilipino or Kalipunmg Makabayan ng mga Pilipino ( M a k a ~ i l i ) . ~ ~
Ramos rctrcatcd to the mountain arcas of Northern Luzon along with
thc Japanese Army and somc Cabinct mcmbcrs of the ncwly cstablishcd
Philippine "Rcpublic," at the cnd of thc Japancse Occupation. An
eycwitncss account dcclarcs that Ramos was on board a Japancse planc
which crashcd as it took off for Japan. His bclongings were brought back
to one of his sistcrs, but his rcmains have ncvcr bccn r e c o v c r ~ d . ~ ~
His relatives bclicvcd that hc had died until scvcral years ago whcn
somcone brought the ncws that hc was still alivc and living on Mount
Bosoboso, Antipolo. Somc mcmbcrs of thc Ramos clan visitcd him, but
his rclativcs wcre dividcd as to thc authcnticity of thc man. Ramos's
daughter, Leticia Ramos-Uyboco, is inclincd to bclieve that he is hcr
long-lost father.
I met this man who claims to bc Benigno Ramos on two occasions, 22
Scptcmbcr and 23 Octobcr 1983.55Evcn considcring his old agc, which
would have bccn nincty-four in 1985, and thc amnesia which thc man
said he suffered aftcr the war, I am not convinccd that he is thc rcal
Ramos. His facial fcaturcs arc diffcrcnt from lhosc sccn in Ramos's carly
pictures. He claims that he docs not remcmber how to speak Spanish, nor
does he recall the names of his Japanese hosts, evcn though he was in
Japan for four years. He could not remember the Manila Norlh High
School incident, or other cvents in Ramos's life. He did not remember
Jeremias Adia, who servcd him as secretary during the war. Mr. Adia
shares my opinions regarding the authenticity of this so-called Ramos.
Whether or not Benigno R m o s is still alive, his spirit and thoughts
continue to dwell among his surviving followers and among the mem-
bers of organizations, which today perpetuate these ideas in various
forms. They will remain with them until their desire for "True Independ-
ence" is no longer a dream.

53. His name appears off and on in connection with these two organizations in the Tribune issues
of the war years.
54. Interview wilh Ramos-Uyboco.
55. The first trip was arranged through the assistance of Ramos' grandnephews. On the second
trip, I was accompanied by two others: Professor Shimo Sumki of the Shimoka University and
Jeremias Adia, f o h e r Sakdalista.